Telegraphy practice device



United States This invention relates to telegraphy practice devices.

An object of the invention is to provide a device upon which an individual may practice the technique of sending telegraphic messages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a telegraphy practice device which may be conveniently and suitably carried in the pocket or in a case and may thus be kept upon the person of the user so that he may practice when time is available wherever he may be.

A further object of the invention is to provide a telegraphy practice device of sturdy construction, attractive appearance, and adapted to make a clear and easily audible sound when operated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description considered in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the reference numeral designates a support or base consisting of a flat sheet or plate of rigid material, preferably plastic. Beneath each corner of the support 10 is fixed a foot 11, of rubber or other suitable material, to give the support 10 firm frictional contact with an underlying horizontal surface.

Superimposed upon the support 10, is a sounding frame, generally designated 12. The frame 12 is channel-shaped and includes a web 14, secured to the support 10 by screws 15, a pair of spaced, upstanding sidewalls 16 extending longitudinally along and carried by the web 14 and an inverted U-shaped auxiliary frame 17, positioned adjacent one end of the web 14 and having the free ends of its legs secured to the complementa] portions of the sidewalls 16 of the main frame. The under portion of the web 14 is cut away, intermediate its ends, as shown at 18, to form a sounding space between the support 10 and the under portion of the web 14.

A lever 19 is positioned longitudinally of and between the sidewalls 16 of the main frame and is connected, intermediate its ends, to the sidewalls 16 for upward and downward rocking movement about a horizontal axis, one end portion of the lever 19 extending through the auxiliary frame 17. The lever 12 consists of a single bar of rigid material and it is pivoted upon a pin 20 which extends transversely between and has its ends mounted in upwardly extended portions 21 of the sidewalls 16.

Carried upon the end portion of the lever 19 which extends through the auxiliary frame 17, is a hammer 22, contactable with the bight of the auxiliary frame 17 upon upward rocking movement of the lever 19. The hammer 22 consists of a short pin or bar having its lower portion embedded in the lever 19 and its upper portion projecting upwardly therefrom in such position that the upper end of the hammer 22 will strike the lower surface of the bight of the auxiliary frame 17 2,808,660 'Patented Oct. 8, 1957 2 when the portion of the lever 19, upon which the hammer 22 is mounted, is moved upwardly.

Upon the endof the lever 19 opposite to that carrying the hammer 22, is hand actuable means, consisting of a nger button 23, for effecting the upward rocking movement of the lever 19. The finger button 23 has a threaded shaft 24 projecting from its lower face, which shaft 24 is threadably engaged in the lever 19.

Spring means 25 is operatively connected to the web 14 and the lever 19 for biasing the lever 19 toward its downward movement position. The spring 25 is positioned to the side of the pivot 20 adjacent the nger button 23 and has its lower end fixed to the upper surface of the web 14. The other end of the spring 25 projects into an aperture 26, extending upwardly through the lever 19, and abuts the shank end of a bolt 27, threaded into the aperture 26 from the upper side of the lever 19. The spring 25 is compressed betweeen the upper surface of the web 14 and the end of the bolt 27 so as to bias the lever 19 so as to raise the linger button 23 and lower the hammer 22. The tension upon the spring 25 may be increased or diminished respectively by increasing or diminishing the depth to which the bolt 27 is set in the lever 19.

Extending vertically through the lever 19, adjacent the hammer 22, is a knurled headed bolt 28, having its head above the lever 19 and its shank end below the lever 19. The shank end of the bolt 28 strikes upon the upper surface of the web 14, upon downward movement of the end of the lever carrying the hammer 22 and thus serves to limit such downward movement. A lock nut 29 surrounds the shank of the bolt 28, intermediate the head of the bolt and the upper surface of the lever 19, and is turned to a position flush against the upper surface of the lever 19 to lock the bolt 28 in any desired position of projection through the lever 19.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the device of the present Vinvention affords a simply constructed, attractive appearing and readily portable simulation of a telegraph key assembly upon which an individual may practice the operation of a telegraph key as required in the sending of telegraphic messages. The structure of the device, particularly of the sounding frame 12 and the hammer 22 is such as to produce distinct, clearly audible sound, resembling that of a telegraph instrument in operation, when the iinger button 23 is pressed downward. In use, the magnitude of the rocking movement of the lever 19 may be controlled by the adjustment of the bolt 2S. The cutting away of a part of the under portion of the base 14 has been found to add resonance to the sounds emitted by the device when it is operated.

What is claimed is:

l. A telegraphy practicing device consisting of a base plate, a channel shaped sounding frame mounted upon said base plate, said sounding frame comprising a web secured to the base plate and spaced sidewalls rising from and extending substantially the length of the web, an inverted U-shaped frame on and rising from one end of said sounding frame, said U-shaped frame having legs iixed on related ones of the sidewalls and a bight portion spaced upwardly from said web, a lever extending along said sounding frame between said sidewalls and spaced upwardly from said web, pivot means on said sidewalls engaging an intermediate part of said lever and mounting said lever on said sounding frame for vertical rocking movement, said lever having irst and second ends, said iirst end being positioned through said U-shaped frame beneath the bight portion thereof, a hammer on and rising from said iirst end for sounding contact with said bight portion in arrocked position of said lever, and a linger button on said second end of the lever, said web having a portion of its under side spaced above `said base and dening 'a lsounding space.

2. A telegraphy practicing device consisting of a base plate, a,V channel shaped sounding frame mounted upon said base plate, said sounding frame comprising a web secured to the base Vplate land spaced sidewalls rising `from and extending substantially 'the length of the web, an inverted -U-'shaped vframe on and rising from one end of said sounding frame,-saidU-shaped frame having'legs fixed on related ones of the sidewalls and a bight portion spaced upwardly from said web, a lever extending along said sounding frame between said sidewalls and spaced upwardly from said web, pivot means on said sidewalls engaging Van intermediate part of said lever and mounting said lever on said sounding {f1-ame for vertical rocking movement, said lever 'having first and second ends, said first end being positioned through said yU-shaped References Cited in the file of this patent S'IA'lliS PATENTS 255,932 Bnnnell Apr. 4, 1882 281,362 Hart July 17, 1883 437,510 Purdy Sept. 30, 1890 723,716

Newman et al. Mar. 24I 1903 i w 1.a 

